The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-07-27
GAS IN NIAGARA ROCK,
State Geologist Thoznpson's Opinion as to
the Find at Vernon.

State Geologist ThOznpson's Opinion as to
the Find at Vernon.
The finding of gas in the Niagara rock at
Vernon may or may not prove to be a
profitable discovery. If the gas is in place
in the Niagara limestone, the stronger
probability is that it will soon exhaust IT.
self; but If the drill merely struck a leak
leading from the Trenton rock below, the
reservoir may prove to be extensive. All
over Indiana the Niagara limestone is oil
bearing, but as a rule the oil is caught in
small, scattered cups, assures and fossil i'm
pressions in such q way that it
cannot be collected into any ex-
tensive reservoir. In other words,
the Niagara limestone is not, as a rule,
porous TO any great extent, and therefore
no large or lasting supply of gas is to be
expected in IT. This rule may have an ex-
ception, and that exception may exist at
Vernon. am in hopes that the Vernon
gas is a leak from the Trenton formation
below, and that the gas Is really Trenton
gas il so, the quantity may be immense.
A few wells sunk to the Trenton limestone
in that vicinity will be the only safe test.
So few wells drilled into the Niagara to
about the horizon Of the present well
will settle the extent of the Niagara res
ervoir, if indeed there be one At
Francisville well in the Niagara
rate of twenty barrels or more a day.
Where such a deposit of oil exists there
may be considerable quantities of gas
stored, but the supply will be limited on
account of the lack of any extensive ressr-
voir.
At present it is unsafe to assume that the
Vernon gas is or is not Trenton gas. That
the drill reached it in the Niagara lime
stone is certain; but that the gas is in place
Al T. 49, A -
tered wells drilled into both the Trenton
and the Niagara will settle the question. If
the gas is in place in the Niagara rock, the
drill will soon disclose the extent of the
reservoir, and If 1t is Trenton gas the drill
will soon show it. OF course, it is possible
for Niagara limestone to have large por-
GUS or assured area full of high-pressure
gas, and such an area may exist at Vernon;
but the stronger probability is that ii the
gas is Niagara gas and is not leak from
the Trenton below, the supply will prove
comparatively small. / say this in warn
ing,tothose interested, and if theywill heed
what say they possibly may avoid de-
stroying by overdraught reservoir which
may be sufficient for all their needs If care
fully husbanded. Let it first be deter
miRed whether the gas is Trenton gas Ii
it is not Trenton gas then it
is a local pocket, and too many wells will
probably speedily exhaust it.
So fa-, with the very slightest exceptions,
the gas and oil area of Indiana has been
found just as predicted in the first sketch
1 ever penned on the subject. The Wabash
River remains the line OF demarkation be-
tween the,gss-feld, and the reason of this is
plain, from the fact that the Wabash River
runs along the line of fracture near the
northern limit of the upheaVal IN Indiana
which occurred at the close of the Niagara
period. The river breaks through this up
heaval at DelpAi.
] have expected gas to be found at some
point in the western part of the State and
Dorth of the Wabash, but have 80 far been
disappointed. MAURICE THOMPSON.